THE meeting of Arab security authorities in Beirut highlights several things. It shows that Lebanon has not been left alone to battle with regional forces that have a suspicious agenda.
Lebanon is no longer the backyard garden for political aggrandizement that has been affecting some countries which cannot exist without causing trouble in Islamic and Arab nations. Everybody has realized that this small country, which regularly faces waves of attacks from the south, remains far stronger than the storms, stakes and adventures of those with destructive plans.

The historic summit, by its nature and timing, has blocked all windows of ambiguous insinuations promoted by pessimists, especially those who have been saying it is impossible for Saudi Arabia and Syria to have cordial relations. The level of cordiality shared by the two countries surfaced during the summit. Political language is the same in Riyadh or Syria when it concerns future-related issues, because truth will always prevail. This implies that Arab incubator is warmer than all others.

It is the tent of security sought by the entire Arab world from East to West, because Saudi Arabia and Syria offer protection from aggressors not only to Lebanon, but to all other countries in the region.
The Beirut Summit is not only a high-level Arab meeting in the recent political history, but it is a watershed that creates new history, and so everybody should be aware of its implications. This is an affirmation that Syria will never allow proponents of anti-Arab ideologies to usurp Lebanon and will remain a strong pillar alongside other Arab nations, since it realizes that any slip to the external forces spells doom. Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad understands the significance of the Arab stance regardless of certain ideological differences at some points on some international issues. He will never allow anything to draw him back from Arab alliance into another strange stance.

There is nothing like coincidence or extemporization in politics, so the fact that President Al-Assad and King Abdullah traveled in the same plane to Beirut speaks volumes of cordial relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia and stands as a foundation for building the future. If some people in Lebanon reveal their real faces and declare support for Arabs and Lebanon, the Arab security umbrella will forever remain a cover for that small country. This will prevent attempts to destabilize the country, no matter how strong the attempts are, because an Arab fort against destructive plans would have been established.       

King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz had started preparing for the next phase of action by the time he announced the historic initiative during the Arab Summit in Kuwait. He took the initiative and made efforts to put the house in order and protect it against unscrupulous elements who are trying to spark a fire of controversy in Lebanon. We are now in front of visionary leaders who are imploring Arabs to rescue Lebanon from external agenda which is different from the internal one that is in favor of citizens’ interests. This is the essence of the extraordinary Beirut Summit.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
Email: ahmed@aljarallah.com